Author: peterval

Oorts are fragments of chewed up grass (or other similar material) that are spat out by small mammals, especially Bettongs, probably because these remnants are too fibrous to swallow. Ecologists are using them to help measure activity of bettongs at different sites and also to collect DNA from fresh saliva-rich oorts (as a non-invasive sampling technique). It makes sense given the definition Martin found for “orts” (food scraps). I wonder whether there is a different spelling by chance or deliberately (Gordon Claridge?) as the context seems the same (food scraps).

An interesting thread …

Peter

On 1 Jun 2017, at 3:36 pm, Martin Butterfield < martinflab@gmail.commartinflab@gmail.com>> wrote:

Martin Butterfield
franmart.blogspot.com.au/

On 1 June 2017 at 15:04, Dick Turner < rj.turner@bigpond.com> wrote:

Please check your Contacts-–
my email address is now jlukin01@gmail.com
JLA
This note’s from the mobile.

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Adjunct Professor Peter Valentine
College of Marine and Environmental Sciences
James Cook University

Malanda 4096 6171
0427 634 136 (no reception at home)
peter.valentine@jcu.edu.aupeter.valentine@jcu.edu.au>

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Increasingly Chris this is not the case … it is now being overtaken by sand deposited by the Cairns Regional Council in a misplaced attempt to turn the mudflats into a sandy beach. Locals are concerned at the already significant loss of wader food sources and hope to see the Council reverse its decision. Peter Valentine peter.valentine@jcu.edu.aupeter.valentine@jcu.edu.au> On 08/08/2015, at 4:59 AM, Chris Dahlberg < chrisld71@gmail.comchrisld71@gmail.com>> wrote: Cairns Esplanade. The area out from the Esplanade is dredge spoil from Cairns Harbour. Chris Dahlberg

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A long shot I know, but if by chance anyone found a Nikon lens cap (77mm) at Herdsman’s Lake yesterday it is probably mine – I was near the Wildlife Centre and along the track to where the Black-tailed Native Hens hang out. Appreciate an offline response. Peter Valentine 0427 634 136 (no reception at home) peter.valentine@jcu.edu.aupeter.valentine@jcu.edu.au>

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Debbie, I think it is also true that the acceptable level of expertise is 75%. In other words it is OK to get one in four IDs wrong! That might potentially account for the errors although not sure how some of the mistakes could possibly be made! Blind shooting maybe? Time for 100% success requirement surely. Peter Valentine Malanda _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org

Birdlife Australia Northern Queensland members Kath Shurcliff and Dave Houghton reported (on Eremaea) an amazing concentration of Freckled Ducks at a reserve in northern Queensland a few days ago. They counted 441 but conceded there were probably more as not all of the wetland could be seen from their scope site. As far as I can tell this would be the largest concentration ever recorded anywhere in Australia and even more remarkable given that the species is considered vagrant in northern Queensland – local birders get excited with single birds at a wetland and travel hundreds of km to view them.

I would be interested to hear of any other records of such a concentration anywhere in Australia.

Sadly, the Queensland Government is about to allow grazing into this reserve which will certainly devastate the swamp. Kath and Dave also found thousands of other waterfowl including >1000 Cotton Pygmy Goose, >1000 Pink-eared Duck and >2000 Eurasian Coot. I am tempted to conclude that many are escapees/refugees from the Victorian barbarians. Any thoughts?

Peter Valentine Townsville

0427 634 136 peter.valentine@jcu.edu.au

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My thanks to those many listers who shared their experiences with me both on the list and offline. I appreciate your kindness. I now feel well prepared to meet with my ophthalmologist and optometrist for my pre-op briefing this week. I have some clear questions to raise for clarification and some options to discuss. Sight has played a big part in my life for so long but I have probably taken it for granted! Looking forward to a successful outcome.

thankyou all

Peter

peter.valentine@jcu.edu.au

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Hello everyone, I am looking for comment from listers who have had or know about cataract surgery outcomes and any effects on birdwatching capacity. I currently have excellent vision for my age but affected by cataracts. With the modern approach the natural lens is replaced by an artificial lens (bifocal or trifocal) and outcomes are good apparently. My main concern is will I retain good vision for birding, continue to be able to use the same binoculars and telescope. Any experience out there??

Peter Valentine

0427 634 136 peter.valentine@jcu.edu.au

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Hi Julian, You will find a number of other species also default to the egret outline in the absence of a proper image. These include Barbary Dove and Black-capped Kingfisher. I have no explanation for the gaps or even a complete list of the species with no illustrations.

cheers

peter

On 01/01/2012, at 3:02 PM, Julian B wrote:

> Greetings All > > A HAPPY NEW YEAR. > > May 2012 bring all those as yet unticked species flitting before your > binoculars. > > Bought myself the Morecombe app as an early Christmas present but while > toying with the various bits and pieces yesterday [my first real opportunity > to play with the gadget since purchase] I noted that under Helmeted > Guineafowl the screen shows what appears to be a grey image [not a live > link?] of an Eastern Great Egret. Anyone else notice the anomaly? Fay, who > did receive her’s as a Christmas present, has the same incongruity. It was > sourced from a different outlet at a different time. > > Have I missed a thread dealing with this? > > Cheers > > Julian > > =============================== > > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message: > unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) > to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au > > http://birding-aus.org > =============================== >

Associate Professor Peter Valentine School of Earth and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville Queensland, Australia.

landline 61.7.47814441 cell 0427 634 136

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Like others, I have bought from B&H a few years ago but with the strength of the Australian dollar the differences in prices are not much now. I believe some companies have also adjusted their regional pricing system. I had purchased Swarovski binoculars from both Adelaide Optics and also from Bintel, but most recently I could not get a response from Bintel for a Swarovski Scope so I did what a number of birding colleagues in Townsville have been doing, asked our local photographic shop for a quote. That proved a winner all round and also, the camera store is now stocking Swarovski bins and scopes. Townsville has got a healthy population of active birders, but I suspect there must be options to go local elsewhere. In the case of Swarovski the after sales service in Australia is fantastic.

Peter Valentine

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